metamorphic
Unakite
Epidotized Granite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 6-7, mottled green and pink/red colors, dull to vitreous luster, massive habit.
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Physical properties
Hardness 6-7, mottled green and pink/red colors, dull to vitreous luster, massive habit.
Formation & geological history
Formed by hydrothermal alteration of granite, where plagioclase feldspar is replaced by epidote.
Uses & applications
Used as a lapidary material for tumbling, cabochons, carvings, and beads.
Geological facts
First discovered in the Unakas mountains of North Carolina, from which it gets its name.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive mottled green (epidote) and pink/red (orthoclase feldspar) appearance, often with some quartz. Found mainly in the US (North Carolina, Virginia) and South Africa.
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